The Week in Review: 06.30.2017
Between the Covers
Finished last week:
TROPHY SON by Douglas Brunt is the fictional story of Anton Stratis, a young tennis star who’s fulfilling a destiny his father dreamed of when he was born. His wasn’t a normal childhood, rather it was filled with tennis lessons, practice sessions, and mental and physical conditioning. He’s having some success at tennis, but at what cost? I found this book very compelling and read it quickly. It’s a thought provoking story with a good storyline and even better characters. Even though this story revolves around tennis it could be about any sport these days. There’s a lot to talk about so it would make a great book club selection. (Review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press.)
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS ALMANAC 2018 is chock full of fun facts about everything from sports to animals to geography. It’s printed on nice quality paper and includes beautiful, full-color photographs. I just loved it and read through this book from cover to cover but I imagine most kids will enjoy dipping in and out of it. Not only does it include interesting facts, it has fun quizzes and puzzles, and gives tips on things like writing papers, studying, and researching. There’s also links to more great resources online. The material is presented in a fast-paced, interesting manner so I’m sure there’s something to interest every kid out there – even those reluctant to pick up a book. I think this book is the perfect way to counteract the summer “brain drain” that many kids suffer from. Be sure to pick it up for the middle grade readers in your life! (Review copy provided by Media Masters Publicity.)
David Sedaris‘s new book, THEFT BY FINDING: DIARIES 1977-2002 is exactly what it sounds like – 25 years worth of his diaries. It took me a little while to warm up to it – it felt crude and incohesive at first – but once I settled in, I found myself spending extra time in my car just to listen longer. Sedaris has a keen eye and a sharp tongue so his observances of every day life are often laugh out loud funny. Sedaris himself narrates the audio version and I highly recommend it. His droll delivery and marvelous voices and accents make it feel like he’s an old friend telling you his stories. If you’re a Sedaris fan, you won’t want to miss this book! (Review copy provided by Hachette.)
Currently reading:
- EVERYBODY’S SON by Thrity Umrigar
- A PARIS YEAR by Janice MacLeod
- THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER by Karen Dionne
- DRAW-IT-YOURSELF ADVENTURES: SPY MISSION by Andrew Judge and Chris Judge
On the Screen
Not much of anything.
Off the blog
- I finished my jigsaw puzzle but forgot to take a picture of it before I tore it up.
- I had a few friends over to play Carcassonne this week. It was a lot of fun but I came in dead last.
- We’re having the outside of our house painted and they got started on it Wednesday. I’m really excited about the new color and can’t wait for it to be finished.
- The crud I had last week is lingering so I missed walking one day. I walked at least 3 miles all but one morning and averaged close to 14,750 Fitbit steps a day.
How was your week?
What color did you choose? 🙂
Halcyon green. I’ll post before and after pictures when they’re done – hopefully next Friday.
I was wondering what color you chose, too. I can’t wait to hear about the MacLeod book 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!! Happy 4th!!
That almanac book sounds great! How exciting to have our house painted — can’t wait to see the photos.
We just got Trophy Son into the shop, I may have to pick that one up. I listened to David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall on audio and it is the funniest thing I ever heard. I highly recommend listening to his books over reading them.
The crud is moving through my family now – not fun. I hope you feel much better very soon. I’ve never heard of Carcassonne so I’m off to look it up 🙂
David Sedaris is great on audio,but I know what you mean about taking a little while to settle in. Will listen to his new one eventually. Looking forward to your thoughts on Thrity Umrigar’s new book!
Glad to hear you liked Trophy Son, I thought it was such an excellent book, one of my only 5 stars in the last month or so!
I love National Geographic so much. And when I lived in D.C., it was my favorite museum, even more than the big famous ones!
Hope you feel better! Your week sounds good, and A Year in Paris looks tempting.
I love shades of green for house paint…my last house had that color. I’m not sure what “halcyon” green is, though. I’m off to Google it. LOL.
Thanks for sharing.
Feel better soon! I can’t wait to see the pictures of your house with the new paint color – I hope you’re not getting this week-long spat of rain we have here in north georgia so your painters can finish.
I am so sorry that you are still not 100% but the amount of steps you get in each day makes me literally halcyon green with envy…I have never heard of Carcassone and I will look it up in a minute…I felt the same way about Trophy Son….I am forcing Den to read it!
I’ve never heard of that game before. I can’t wait to see the before and after photos of your house. I finally picked the color for our house, Valspar Summer Sun. I can’t wait for it to be done and to get moved in. It’s taking for ev er !
Sorry your still not feeling ok. I hope you do soon.
Trophy Son sounds really good. Kathy. I think I’ll pass on the Sedaris book. I tried an audio of his once and it didn’t work for me–and now I’m reading one in print for a book club and still not caring for his writing or sense of humor. It’s a shame because I know how popular he is.
I’ve been hearing good things about The Marsh King’s Daughter and hope you are enjoying it.
I hope you are feeling completely better now, Kathy. Have a great weekend and Happy Independence Day!
The Macleod and Unrigar books are the ones I’d like to find. Trophy Son typifies so many parents who try to live their dream through their children. Very common in my part of the world not with sports at all, just academics.
You managed to get in a lot of daily steps, in spite of not feeling great! I can’t wait to see your freshly-painted house! The Sedaris audio book sounds really good and funny! Have a terrific weekend, Kathy!
The National Geographic Almanacs were always a hit at our house. I haven’t read anything by Sedaris yet but almost every review says how funny he is. And oh my gosh, why is it I never heard the expression “the crud”? I actually looked it up!
I really appreciate your thoughts on the Sedaris book! I’ve flipped through it and I wasn’t sure, but I’m thinking I might warm to it too if I give it time. I’ve never tried Sedaris on audio but now might be the time!
I am so impressed with all your walking! I am training for the AVON breast cancer walk to am starting to walk more with my “team.” It feels good and I hope to continue some version of the walking when we’re done training.
Hope the crud leaves for good soon.
I hope that you feel better soon; the walking should help. I am always amazed by your activities. Puzzles have always been a favorite of mine.
TROPHY SON sounds great!!!! I loved the almanac too! Hope you’re feeling better!
Hope you feel better. I’m a tennis player so perhaps I should check out Trophy Son; sounds compelling. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the Karen Dionne book and the one by Thrifty Umrigar. Those are on my list as well.
Thrity Umrigar is local to Northern California and is getting a lot of play. I think I will have to give her a try.
I have the almanac too and am looking forward to checking it out. I’ve always had a hard time with Sedaris’s books. I’ve never enjoyed them as much as others seem to.
Sounds like you had a great reading week. I love all things from National Geographic. I’m going to look into this one for my grandson. He loves pictures that charge his imagination.
How exciting on the house painting! Happy reading this week 🙂